Bricks FIP Battle
Our Brick has been diagnosed with FIP (Feline infectious peritonitis). FIP is a horrible disease with a mortality rate of almost 100%. He started showing signs early on the week and from being a Vet Nurse I knew something was wrong. Within hours of me taking Brick into work to get checked out, finding out the horrible news at the emergency vet, I was panicked and researched so much about FIP. Brick showed all the signs for Wet FIP - fluid in the abdominal cavity, jaundice, lethargic, no appetite, and rapid weight loss.
Through my research I discovered an incredible Facebook group of owners with FIP Positive cats that have used a certain medication which is not yet registered with the FDA, and is very very hard to source. This medication has an 84 day course and is extremely expensive (thousands and thousands). It was either try this medication or eventual euthanasia within weeks.
I was very lucky to be able to source 15 days worth of the medication in Brisbane (the only medication available in Queensland) as the rest is in Sydney, and by the time it arrives to us it might have been too late.
Brick had his first dose last night, just 24 hours after finding out about his diagnosis. He is already brighter today, but he has a long road ahead of him. This medication has a 95% success rate and from reading many other owners stories who have used it, I am optimistic for his future.
I am going to document his process on @brickexotic in the hope to help others who are going through the same thing. Another owner reached out to me who’s cat was diagnosed with FIP today - their tablets wouldn’t arrive from Sydney until Monday, and their cat likely wouldn’t survive the weekend. I was able to give them some of Bricks medication to get them through the weekend.
I have started a GoFundMe page as this medication is so expensive, but Sam and I can’t live without giving our little man a chance. Any donation would be appreciated.
It costs approximately $60 a day to keep brick alive, with a course of 84 days for the medication to work.